Old Guard

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Napoleon surrounded by his old guard

For other uses, see Old guard.

The Old Guard was the name of the veterans of the French Army's Imperial Guard under Napoleon Bonaparte. The Old Guard served Napoleon since his earliest campaigns. All soldiers within the 1st Grenadiers, 1st Chasseurs, and the Sergeants of the 2nd Grenadiers, Chasseurs, and Fusiliers were in the Old Guard Infantry, while the Mounted Gendarmes, Grenadiers a Cheval, Guard Empress Dragoons, Mamelukes, Chasseurs a Cheval, and 1st (Polish) Lancer Regiments bore that honour for the Cavalry.

It is believed that Napolean hand-selected members of his Old Guard based on physical traits, most notably above-average height. Their imposing stature was likely impressive to foes and allies alike.

The Old Guard Grenadiers were known to complain in the presence of the Emperor, giving them the nickname, Les Grognards. After being disbanded by the victorious Sixth Coalition in 1814, the Old Guard along with the rest of the Imperial Guard was reformed after Napoleon's return from exile on Elba, and later fought at the Battle of Waterloo. The Old Guard Infantry were pivotal in the defense of the town of Plancenoit against the Prussians, and served as a kind of rear guard after the failure of the attack of the Middle Guard on the British Center. The Old Guard Cavalry had the misfortune to be involved in the wasteful midday charges against the British infantry, and were unavailable at the decisive moments of the battle. Napoleon had used up every last reserve except the Old Guard. Faced with overwhelming firepower and numbers, they fell, and were forced to retreat.

The Old Guard is also the nickname of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment